Internal-combustion engine



March 10, 1925. 1,529,637

c. G. sPRADo INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. '7, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet l March 19. 1925.

C. G. SPRADO INTERNAL coMBUsTIoN ENGINE Filed oci. v, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet. 2

latented Mar. 10, 1925. UNITED" STAT DELAWARE INTERNAL-consumerenEnorme.

A CORPoRATIoNioF Appncationnled october 7,' 192`2 serial Nafseaoeo,

To all whom t may concern: j

Be it known that I, CARL G. VSPRADO, a `citizen of the UnitedStates,r'esiding at waukee, in the countypf Milwaukee Vand State of``l/Viscon'sin, have inventeda certain new and usefulInternal-Combustion' Enf] gine, tion. A,

This invention relates in general to im.- provements in internalcombustionengines, and relates more specifically to improved means forcontrolling the consistency' and admission of explosive mixture to a.gas engine or the like.

of which the following a specic'aj YAn object of the invention istofprovide an improved internal combustion engine which ber 28locatedaboveand communicable. with` is simple in vconstruction and vefficientin operation. Another obgect of the invention is tok provide simplemeans `for electively controlling the proportions of the ingredients ofexplosive mixture admitted to angas' enginef. A further object of theinvention;v is to provide meansfor effectively mixing.v the ingredientsof explosive cl 1arge s`-f de#` 25 livered `to an internal combustionengine.

Stillv anotherfobject of the inventionlisto provide etlicient andreadily'operable means forvarying the proportion of the ingredii ents ofexplosive mixture admitted to a gas engine and the like. Another objectofthe invention is to provide means for permitting either manual orautomatic accurateI variation of' the constituents olf mixture ofexplosive fluid. A further object of the 1nvention is to improve theoperation and eiliciency of gas engine valve gear of the type disclosedand claimed `in `Patent 'No 1,27 9,77 4 granted September 24, 1918.These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent-from the accompanying disclosure.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of theoperation-of an `in ternal combustion engine constructed in acc ordancetherewith, may be had byreferf ring vto the drawings accompanying andforming a part of this specification in which like referencecharactersdesignate the same or similar parts in the various view.

' Fig. 1 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section through the inletvalve mechanism and a cylinder of a gas engine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view ofthe gasengine yinlet valve mechanism, the lower part` of the view valvemechanism;v f

`the reciprocable piston' 53,1

offFig.' 3 and 'theupperp'art of thejview Ybef4 f 1,529,637 i FYFINCE' icem.. G. sPRAJJo, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. assisteren V:To f

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, O F IVIILILNVAU'KEEL WISCONSIN,

. being a sation' taken i along? the inn ln- 11 L ing a SectOn'takenv'through thejgasfsupply i,

chamber.

Fig. ,Sis a vfragmento.ry enlarged part sec-i tional i side elevation o1 of axga's nginefnleil The .gas engine .illustrate djiin1the'ildraw-I nand comprises'generallyja power r :ylinfder 2, Y a piston 1,3recip'rocable withinfthylder 2, a. piston vrod 4' rigidlyassociatedyivwith mixture ladmission "po-rt f 5 chamber of thecylinder-2, a'nifixin'g cham` ingfisof `the horizontal' reciprocatingtype f). fk

the inlet port 5, and 'suitable mechanismfor' controlling the admissionof r`gas, andf'airto the chamber28 and 4from the 'chamber 28itoth'ecylinder2 through'the port'5. gasv upper end of the mixingchamberj28is municablewitlithemixing chamber through a double-'portedautomatically operative poppet 'valve 27.' An air supplyhambr surroundsthemedial vportion o fthainix#v 1j.

4ing chamber" 28, the chambers 7, 28 beingff4 separatedfrom 'each otherfby 'means ofxan vannular stationaryperforatedwall 252y and 1an` annularperforated- Vsleeve,24 A'embracing the wall 25 and adjustable aboutthefver.v

tical axis ofannularityl of the wall 25. The I air .-supplychambe'r. 7is constantly in communication with the mixing chamber V28.

sleeve 24. The sleeve24 ifs'supported by means of radial ribs 264s'ecuredto a central hub which embraces agstationary cylindricalvertical wall; The .interiorfof the'mixing foo 'y through thevvperforations in the wall25 andr chamber 28 below the gas inlet valve 27yand between the lower discharge ,portion 9fofy the mixing chamber 28and the inlet port 5 is automatically controllable by means of a "maininlet valve-6 which lis normally heldi in closed position by means ofone`or more]v i lhelical compression springs 12.

' The mechanism. for controlling'the operation ofthe gas supply valve 274andfofthe main inlet lvalve' is automatically operable from the layshaft of the engine by means of a connecting or actuating. rod 22. The

. actuating rod 22 is associated with upper the upper extremity ofthebonnet 223,

. governor eccentric associated with-the block 19.. The verticallyreciprocable cross-head 1 8is connected :to the doublefported gasinletvalve 27 by means of vertical parallel actuating rods rlie main inletvalveactuating rocker arm 17- is pivotally associated rockable arm 16'one end of which is pivot.-

ally associated with the bon-net 23 and which is directlyengageable'with a knuckle block 15. yThey knuckle block 15 coacts with avertically reciprocable cross-head 13 slidable in guide ways 14 inthebonnet 225 and secured to the upper extremity` of vthe main inlet .valverod 11. The rod 11 is surrounded by a spring pressed collar coactingwith the under side of the cross-head V13 andy has the valve 6 rigidlyconnected to the lower end thereof. v f

The perforated sleeve 24 locatedbetween the air supply chamber 7 and thestationary that longitudinal or axial perforated annular wall 25, isconnected to a'liorizontally slidable z'idjustirur shaft 29 by means ofal pin and slot connection-31', so movement of the shaft 2 9 willproduce rotation of the sleeve 24 about the wall 25. An' indicatingvdevice 3()A associated with an end of the shaft y29v and' withthejstationary casing, provides ineaiisfor noting the position of thesleeve 24 with reference tothe wall 25. The opposite end of the shaft 29is connected .vith

a lower projection on an eccentric strap having an .angularly adjustableeccentric i usting shaft 38 therein which is keyed to the adjustingshaft S8. A lateral arm on'the eccentric' strap 33 is adjustably'connected with an eccentric 35 operable by the governor actuated layshaft 4() by means of an eccentric strap. f Thendis adjustably rotatableby n'ieans of a crank 42 or similar mechanism operable through aconnection 36 by means of. a hand wheel 37, a suitable gage 34 servingto indicate the position of adjustment of the shaft 38.

During normal operation of the engine the -mechanism having beenproperly adlay shaft 4'() having ian` n thoroughly mixed with1 thebonnet and i has -a .medial portion engage'able with a Y proportions `ofjusted to produce efficient operation, the gas inlet valve 27 isbeingperiodically opened to admit gas downwardly and outwardly from the gassupply chamber 8 to the mii;- iiig chamber 28. When a charge of gas hasbeen thus admitted to the mixing chamber 28, the main inlet valve 6 yisautomatically 'opened and the suction in the engine cyl- .inder 2 causesAthe admitted gas to flow toward the inlet port 5.

Simultaneously with the downward advanceof the gas, air is drawninwardly from the air supply chamsleeve 24 and .iv-all 25andintermingles with the gas admitted'past the Vvalve 2T. The mixture ofgasand air is drawn downwardly past the helical mixing vanes 10 eand is asit enters tliefinal portion 9 of the mixing chamber 28 from which themixtureis delivered pastthe valve 6 through the port 5 to the engine. Inthe engine cylinder 2, the-explosixe mixture thus admitted is `ignitedtoperform useful work upon the piston Such admission of ei:-plosivevmixture occurs once lfor each two complete reciprocations of thepiston, the admission of mixture being properly timed in` a well knownmanner, f

The governor of the engine normally functions `in response to variationsin speed ofthe enginejto automatically oseillate the regulating shaft 40and to vary the positions vof the eccentries 41, 35. As. the position ofthe eccentric 41 is automatically altered by the governor,they positionof the fulcriiin arm 19 's varied thereby altering the degree of openingof the' gas admission valve L7 with a resultant variation in thequantity of gasadmitted to the Vmixing chamber 28. As the eccentricisjautomateallyadiustd by the governor, the e@- centric strap .s swungabout the eccentric 3 2 ',e'ausing'endwise motion of the shaft 2 9. Sucheiidwise lmotion 4of the shaft 29 is transmitted through theconnection'l at the sleeve 24 .andvpiodiices variation in the relativepositionv of the 'peiforations in the sleeve 24 and in the adjacent wall2 5 thereby either increasing yor decieasingtlie area of thecommunicating passages between aii iiilet chamber 7 andthe mixingchamber 2,8. By proper setting of the connection between thelateralprojection on the strap 33 v and the eccentric strap coacting with theeccentric 35, the relative opening of the gas supply valve 27 and of theair inlet passages,r may be adjusted to produce operation of the engineat maximum efficiency andv econoinyL With such adjustment properlyiiiade,ftlie speed governor will automatically function to admitexplosive mixture having proper ingredients, f -l In addition to theadjustment affordedby the lateral projection of the strap 3?),tlieangular position of the shaft 38 and 'of the ecbei 7 Vthinugh the openperforations in the lzo centric 32 may be changed manually by turn ingthe hand wheel 37. This manual adjustment also permits variation in thearea. of the passages leading 4from the air-inlet chamber 7 to themixing chamber 28, without interfering with the normal operation oradjus'tv ment of the gas inlet valve 27 by the governor. It has beenfound that with the. provision of such adjustments, the characteristicsof the explosive mixture may. be readily and carefully varied to producemaximum efficiency of operation.y The helical mixing vanes l0automatically. function to thoroughly mix Vthe ingredients delivered tothe chamber 28 in streams iiowing oppositely to and impinging directlyagainst each,`

other, and the .final mixture delivered from the chamber portion 9 is inintimately mixed condition. The indicating devices 30, 34

facilitate adjustmenty of the sleeve 24 and clearly indicate thepositionof-this sleeve relatively to the wall 25.

It should `be understood that it isnot desiredto limit the inventionclaimed to the exact details of construction and operation herein shownand described, for. obvious modications within the scope ofthe claimsmay occur to persons skilled in theart.

It is claimed and desired to ters Patent:

1. In combination, a cylinder, ya mixing y chamber communicable withsaid cylinder, a

gas supply chamber communicable with said mixing chamber, a valve forcontrolling communication between said chambers, an

air supply chamber in constant cominunication with said mixing chamberat a point intermediate said valve and said cylinder, and meansoscillatable about the axis of ,said` valve to automatically vary thearea ofthe passage between said. air supply and said mixing chambers. Y

2. In combination, a cylinder, a mixing chamber communicable with saidcylinder, a

gas supply chamber communicable with saidjv mixing chamber, a valve forcontrolling b chamber communicable with said cylinder, a .gas supplychamber communicable with said mixing chamber, means for automaticallycontrolling communication between said chambers, an air supply chamberin constantcommunication with said mixing chainbei', and an oscillatorysleeve for automatically varying the area of the passage between saidair supply and said lmixing chambers.

secure by Letp I "4.Iii combination, a cylinder, a mixingl chambercommunicable with said cy1inder,a-`

gas supply chambercommunicable with said mixingl chamber, an air vsupply chamber communicating with said mixing chamber, common means forvautomatically varying the area of the passages `between said gas supplyand said mixing 'chambers and between said; air supply and said mixingchamf l bers, and means for manually varying only the area `ofth'epassage between said-air, supply and saidimixing chambers.

5. In combinationya cylindeigfa mixing' f chamber communicable `withsaid cylinder, a gas `supply chamber communicable with said mixingchamber,"a`n air supply 'chamber i.

in-.constant communication with said mixing-chamber, and aseries ofhelical 'v'anes disposed between saidI air,-` supply andsa'id cylinderfor Iproducing whirling in otionof airand ber., v V, ,Y 6.` Incombination, a cylinder, a mixing chamber communicable with 4saidcylinder, a gas supply` chamber communicable with said mixing chamber,'avalve for controlling communication between said-chambers, an

air supply vchamber located iny proximity tok said mixing chamber, aperforated wall between saidair supply and said mixing cham-'- gasadmitted to said mixing'cham- 955r bers, a perforated sleeve surroundingsaid wall, the perforationsof said sleeve and wall providing constantlyopen pass'age'sconnect-` 1 ingv said air supply andsaid mixing cham- A p'ico' A said sleeve relatively to saidwall to vary the area of saidpassages.- t y ,1

ber, and means for automatically shifting -7. In combination, afcylinchamber-communicable with ysaid cylinder, a gas supply chambercommunicable with an air vsupply chamber located laterally adjacent tosaidmixing chamber,.a perforated annular kwall between said air supplyand said mixing chambers, a perforatedv sleeve er, a mixing embracingsaid wall,`tlie`perforations of said Y sleeve and wall providingconstantly open lpassages connecting said air supply and said mixingchambers, and means for automatically moving said sleeve about tlie axisof.

annularity ofl said wall't'o varyy theareabf said passages. w '1- 8, Incombination, a cylinder, a :mixing `l i gas supply chamber communicablewith an chamber communicable with said cylinder,

end lof said mixing` chamber, .an automatically `operable valve forcontrolling. communication between saidy chambers, an airv supplychamber surrounding said mixing chamber, a perforated annular walllbetween perforations of saidfsleeve and wall providing constantly openv'passages connecting said ysaid air supply and said .mixing`cliambers,a l Y perforated sleeve. embracing said wall,"the r w 105 f said mixingchamber,` a 'valvey forI controlling communication between saidchambers,

nirf'sugppliy and seid mixing chambers, means forA automaticallyYmovi-ng 'said sleeve. about the axis, of zrnnulsi'ityvof -saicl Wall toVary the 'zweit of seid passages, helical venesv rorl nfvodnein Whiflin`motion of ons and, wir l b a admitted to seicl ini-Xing chamber, and :inautomatically ,operable-:valve for controlling communication:between theopposite end of said mixing-'chamber and said cylincleiz 9. Ineombinetion, a. cylinder, a mixing' chamber communicable -Wi tli yseidcylinder, ai gas supply chamber communicable with said nii-Xing chamber,a Valve vfor controlling communication between said cliainbeis, an ensupply chamber inconstzmt connnuznicetion with said mixing clnunber et epoint intermediate said Valve und said eyflinclei', mean-s for lVaryingonly-themes of the passage betweenssicl an? supply and seid mi2:A ingehnmbeis, and a valve for contnolling` commnnieation between seid mixingchainbei and said cylinder.

10. In combination, n c-ylindei','zi mixing chamber communicable. withsaid cylinder, a

ges supply ychamber coinnmnieable with said mixing chamber, ineens forautomatically controlling communication `between sai-icl chambers, eneil? supply clunnbei in con-y stant communication lwith said mixingchamber, means for varying only the eres of 'linmean sziicl mixingchamber, annif supply chai-Inbev communica-Veilig with said lmixingelismbei, means foi? manually varying onlfyftlie.ereszef the passagebetweensaidaij:supply and seiel mixing chambers, .enel ineens foranitomzitn @elly .establishing eoininnnieetion between seid mixingchamber-mul saicl cylincler.

l2. In combination, e cylinder, e mixing chamber communicable 'with seidcylinder,

e gas .supply chamber communicable with safitl mixingcliamb'eir,kmitomzrtioelfly opereble ineens for intermittently establishingoominlmieation between seid chambers, 'an air supply chambericonstantcommuniezition with said mixing clr-zunber, Ineens 'foncontrolling Jcoinmninmicetion between `said yir supply enel seidiinixing :chen/ebene, and mez-nis for both mannlznlly yand automaticallyadj Listing seid eiisupply control ineens.

ln ,testimony whereof, dissi-gnature of 'it'lie nventoi is sfixedhereto..

CARL G. SBRDO; i

